Carter finds form as the year turns

Qualifying for the 2011 Premier League began in Essex yesterday with the start of an exciting best-of-five frame format Championship League.

It was Essex home boy Ali Carter who enjoyed the brightest start in Group One, with three wins out of three seeing him top of the table at the close of play.

2010 couldn't have finished any worse for Carter.

A disappointing display at December's UK Championship in Telford made sure he was eliminated in the first round by the competition's second-lowest ranked player, Mark Joyce.

But just like throughout the majority of his career, Carter proved yesterday why he should never be written off, as he dusted himself down and came back stronger.

He beat Stephen Maguire 3-2 with two breaks over 80, defeated Mark Selby 3-1 including an effort of 101 in the final frame, and then whitewashed Graeme Dott with three breaks over 60.

It was an impressive haul, and a perfect start to the new calendar year.

Carter didn't make the cut for last year's Premier League, but surely stands a great chance after being so quick out of the blocks here.

Full list of results (day one):

Higgins 3-0 Williams; Murphy 0-3 Selby; Maguire 2-3 Carter; Dott 2-3 Higgins; Williams 2-3 Murphy; Selby 1-3 Carter; Maguire 3-1 Dott; Murphy 3-1 Higgins; Williams 3-1 Selby; Carter 3-0 Dott; Murphy 2-3 Dott; Selby 3-2 Maguire.

Group one continues today.